AFC0044

Written evidence submitted by Rooftop Housing Association.

Rooftop Housing Association provides over 7,000 affordable homes across Worcestershire and Gloucestershire. We have housing provision that we let solely to veterans, and have plans to increase this provision in the future. We have both colleagues and customers who are within the military and/or veteran community and, through our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, we continually seek to support them at every opportunity. We have colleague Armed Forces Champions who sit on the Worcestershire Armed Forces Covenant Operational and Strategic Committees, as well as chairing a self-initiated cross organisational meeting for discussion on how we, as social housing providers, can work together to support the community. Our hope is that providing this evidence can highlight the positives of being an Armed Forces Covenant member and the benefits of using this as platform for growing a network of support.

The Worcestershire Armed Forces Operational and Strategic meetings have provided access for us to work directly with a wide variety of charities and organisations who assist those with a military connection. This gives us detailed insight into the needs of our armed forces community, and highlights areas we could help with, that we may previously have overlooked. Through these meetings we have established a system for improving access to housing for veterans, by directly advertising our read to let properties. Other associations have also committed to this. We are now more mindful of what furnishings we provide to new tenants (i.e. carpets, white goods) which veterans may not be able to bring with them from previous accommodations.

Housing Associations are familiar with reward and recognition schemes and these can feel like tick box exercises. A further credit to the Armed Forces Covenant is its thorough scrutiny of evidence, and focus on meaningful commitments (especially in regards to reservists and cadets), in their awards process. This ensures that there is true, deliverable, commitment.

In our experience, there are no immediate failings of the covenant, although we are fortunate to be within a locality of strong committees and membership which will improve our experience.  Ultimately there are no easy fixes for the challenges faced by the armed forces community and some issues related to health and well-being will be ongoing. That being said, I notice frustrations among social prescribers (in particular) in regards to access to health and social services, identifying members of the armed forces community and getting the right care soon enough. I see the covenant working to assist these efforts locally, but perhaps nationally they could help promote a wider campaign.

24th January 2025